Welcome

Why a blog from me, someone who has never been a writer, someone who has never been articulate or had a solid grasp of the grammar world. Because God told me to write. Several years ago a life storm invaded my family. God kept telling me to write it all down. I argued, but He would not let up. This went on every day for a couple of weeks until one day out of frustration, (I'd like to say it was out of obedience), I picked up a pen and paper and wrote for 7 hours straight! Do you think maybe I needed therapy and God knew it?

I've been writing ever since and have learned to love it! I started out sharing my stories with friends and family. I've now been published in a Nashville church paper, Our Daily Journey (a devotional site of RBC Ministries), PCCWeb Daily Devotional, Ruby for Women Ezine Magazine, and I am a contributor in the book Alabaster Jars, Life in Abundance Collection 2.

Why Ponderings? During this life storm, God led me to a pond in the woods behind my home. There He met me each time, teaching new lessons, reminding me of old ones, showing His presence and allowing me to feel His love through the surroundings of that pond. I found myself returning over and over to ponder, pray and praise. A healing of my heart took place and out of the experience came my first book, Ponderings From the Pond, then a second book, Ponderings From My Porch, and now a third book is in the works along with a memoir about my storm.

Why am I making myself so vulnerable? Because God has done so much that I cannot keep quiet. I have to share. Jesus's last words to his desciples were, "Go,tell." We are his disciples too and this is just one of my ways of telling.

I'm no scholar but I have heard God's voice in my spirit, experience His love daily, and have a desire for others to experience this also. I would love to share with all who visit and I would love to hear from you. If my sharing gets just one to ponder, to be quiet with the Father, to see and hear from Him or to be reminded of something from Him, then this is worth my vulnerability.

As you visit me, sometimes we will be at the pond, sometimes we will move to the front porch, and sometimes we will just be here, there, and yonder. Thank you for coming and please feel free to come back anytime, you are always welcome here.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14

*****EXCITING NEWS*****

My first book, Ya Know What I'm Say'n, has been released.


Ponderings

Ponderings

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Who Am I?

Who am I?
I live out in the world
I live in a car or camper in parking lots
I live under bridges and tents and cardboard boxes in the woods

Who am I?
I may have lost my job and cannot get another
I may have gotten sick and lost everything
I may have made bad choices and consequences are following me

Who am I?
I'm a person just like you
I have red blood traveling through my veins
My heart beats just like yours
I feel hurt and pain, sometimes love
I cry, I laugh, I dream, sometimes I just sleep because of depression

Who am I?
I came from a family
I had a beginning, I have a story
Sometimes I have hope, sometimes  I don't

Do you know who I am?

Most do not know me because they are not looking for me
If they pass by, they don't want to look
They look the other way

If you see me please,
extend your hand to shake mine
Look me in the eyes and smile
Acknowledge that I am a human being worthy of a handshake, a smile, a little bit of kindness

Who am I?
I'm labeled homeless
I may not have a home but I still have a spirit
That spirit can get real low at times
So please say a prayer for me

Who am I?

                              I am Dave                                                                     I am Gordon           

I am Larry

I am Roger

I am Mike

I am Daryl

I am Sondra

If I seem unpleasant or I scare you, please forgive me
It's hard to always be on my best with so many worries on the mind, or aches and pains, or extreme uncomfortableness
Sometimes I may feel lost
But I will do by best to be kind to you

That's why a pleasant smile and a handshake can be so important
For you to look me in the eye and call me by my name
can lift me up
When you smile at me, I will smile back at you

Who am I?

I am a child of God
And I may be waiting for you to come tell me














                                 

                    

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow, that was a little convicting! Thanks, I needed to hear and see this post.

Heather Rae said...

Wow! This is so powerful! Award-winning! I'm truly amazed and humbled. Truly beautiful, Kristin!

Cora from Hidden Riches said...

Kristin, this wa so moving and so powerful to me. Thank you for that!!!! I am building a website for a singing group that ministers to the homeless. I'm wondering if you would give me permission to use this there? I would give you credit and link you up to your blog. You can email me about it at: countrypatches1@verizon.net

Anonymous said...

So thankful God has led you to make such a difference in the lives of these people...such a difference in our world! Thank you for being obedient and, in the process, challenging each of us to do the same.

Love you,
Jennie

Kristin Bridgman said...

Thank you ladies!
Cora, I e-mailed you.
Jennie, I don't think I have made a lof of difference in their lives. I do hope they saw and felt the love of Jesus. I pray that by my stories of them, people will see them differently, and think twice about how they would react if they met a homeless person. That they would think twice about their opinions of them. Jesus came to heal the lost and sick. The least we can do is show them love and help in whatever way the Lord leads us.

Unknown said...

Tears!!! This is so true! What a blessing to my heart! Thank you so much for sharing this it touched me deeply!

Love ya! ♥

Lisa Maria said...

Kristin, what an awesome post. Names to those nameless faces. Somehow we dont really 'see' these people and their dignity as humans seem to be taken away from them. When my husband and I started to feed the homeless on a Sunday I remember that first day telling him I couldn't do it. Looking into their eyes, getting that close to their pain and misery was too much for me. I saw hope in some of their eyes.. others had hopelessness and they seemed to have given up, they even refused the food. Some looked suspicious as if they thought we'd poison them.

I know what you mean about feeling that you cant make a difference..one time we were ambushed by so many people at a particular part of town and we didn't have enough.. I felt like what we were doing was just a drop in the ocean, but every little thing we do for God DOES have an impact.It just takes a lot of courage to do it.

We did it for about 2 or 3 months and then my husband started travelling heavily and we just sort of stopped one day. I've been feeling lately the pull to start back.. maybe this post was for me?

Thanks for re-opening my eyes. God must have a huge treasure in Heaven for you ;-)


Love & Blessings!

SuLeigh Hippie Chick said...

Kristie, As you know, after working most of my life, I fell upon hardships and can tell you first hand what it feels like to be homeless. Even though it may not appear to be so, all of us down on our luck still have pride. Thus many of us never tell our families, thinking we can work it out on our own. We don't want to be looked down on so we let it go until sometimes too late. If we are fortunate enough to still have our health we can sometimes pull ourselves up. Some don't. As you have shown, not all homeless people are drug addicts or criminals as most grew up believing. Remember when we were little the hobo's that rode the train behind Grandma and Grandpa's house. They would jump off close by because Grandma always had plenty of food on the table to take in one more. Grandpa would read to them from the Bible. Never was there a fear they would hurt them, or as a child, I don't recall any. Its a rough road for many people and families. I've often said that most of us live just one paycheck away from poverty. It's very sad yet there are good people in the world such as you and Keith that devote their time, money, love and spread the Lord's word to helping those less fortunate. At our 'down' times we found the loving word and help from strangers a great inspiration. We know we also have angels watching over us and will save those stories for another time. But I thank you for this wonderful blog and you have a special place in Heaven for the good work you do here on earth. You are special my cousin. I love you!